Newbury 15:40
Newbury hosts a decent looking card today, and this is a useful handicap being run over a mile and on the face of it, it appears wide open.
Golden Wedding has been running consistently well on the all weather tracks without getting his head in front. His trainer (Eve Johnson Houghton) is currently in a brilliant run of form however, as she's had 13 winners (24.53%) from her last 53 runners, for a level stakes profit of 63.25. With the yard flying and a switch to turf, a big run is expected from Golden Wedding, with the very competent Charles Bishop on board.
Kestrel Dot Com won very well over this distance and on the same going at Yarmouth two runs ago, before finding an extra eight pounds of weight and a better class of race too much last time out. That was also on the all weather at Kempton, so a return to good turf ground here could see him take a step forward again and be a big player in this. Silvestre De Sousa is the jockey, and he has an excellent record riding here at Newbury.
Dubai's secret is just the one pound higher than for his last victory, and he looked very well suited by today's racing conditions. He won the only other time he raced here, which was last summer, and a return here could help him to rediscover his best form.
Mullionhier has slipped down the ratings quite a long way, but has done well in the past in these types of conditions. He is a full seven pounds lower than for his last win (which was here at Newbury), and his last four runs have all been on the all weather. Good going turf courses generally bring out the best in him, and he looks a reasonable each way shout at a big price.
Newbury 15:05
The best race of the day at Newbury is a ten furlong fillies Listed race for three year olds, with some very nice looking runners in the field.
The one horse that stands head and shoulders above the rest on what they have achieved so far is Talaayeb, who was a very easy winner of a maiden at Newmarket as s a two year old, before finishing an impressive fourth in the 1,000 Guineas. She didn't get the clearest of runs that day, otherwise she would have been closer, but even so, finishing three and a half lengths behind Winter is still a good effort. She is rated miles clear of the rest of this field, and although she will be a prohibitive price betting wise, it will be great to see her in action again.
Today's Selection
Newbury 15:40 - 1/2 point each way - Dubai's Secret @ 11/1 (Bet365, Paddy Power, Skybet)